Cap or closure for bottles, jars, cans, or the like.



No- 829,699- PATENTED AUG. 28, 1906. W. H. DODGE. GAP 0R CLOSURE FOR BOTTLES, JARS, CANS, OR THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED APR.23,1906.

' duced by the initial operation in the pro uc' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM H. DODGE, OF MONTCLAIR, NEW JERSEY.

CAP OR CLOSURE FOR BOTTLES, JARS, CANS, OR THE LIKE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 28, 1906.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. DODGE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Montclair, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and useful Cap or Closure for Bottles, Jars, Cans, or the Like, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to caps or closures for bottles, ars, cans, or the like.

The object of the invention is to provide a cap or closure for bottles, jars, cans, or the like which is simple in construction, economical in manufacture, efficient in operation and use, and capable of being readily and easily applied to. and removed from the bottle, jar, can, or the like.

A further object of the invention is to form a cap or closure of the character referred to from a single sheet or plate of material in an expeditious and economical manner and to re uce the number of manipulations necessary to produce the finished article.

A further object is to provide means in a single-piece cap for accommodating the handle of a spoon or the like.

A further object is to provide a cap or closure of the character referred to wherein the gripping effect or action is closely adjacent the peripheral edge or mouth of the bottle, jar, can, or the like to which the cap or closure is applied, thereby enabling the same to. be removed by the ap lication of sli ht ressure exerted upon the ower edge of the ange of the cap and in the direction of length of the can, bottle, jar, or the like.

Other objects of the invention will appear more fully hereinafter.

The invention consists, substantially, in the construction, combination, location, andarrangement of parts, all as will be more fully hereinafter set forth, as shown in the accompanying drawings, and finally pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, and to the various views and reference-signs appearing thereon, Figure 1 is'a view in plan of an eccentrically-shaped cup or shell rotion of a cap or closure embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the eccentric cup or blank with a crescent-shaped strip removed therefrom to separate the flange thereof for a portion of its circumferential length from the base or top of the cup or shell. Fig. 3 is a view in side elevation of a cup or shell, showing a portion of the flange reduced in transverse width to form an integral connecting web in the separated portion ofjthe flange. Fig. 4 is a plan view of a completed cap embodying my invention. Fig. 5 is a view in side elevation of the same. Fig. 6 is a view in side elevation, parts in longitudinal section, showing the application of a cap embodying my invention to the mouth of a bottle, jar, can, or the like.

The same part is designated by the same reference-sign wherever it occurs throughout the several views.

In the manufacture of caps or closures for bottles, jars, cans, or the like it is desirable to produce a device which is simple in construc tion, economical in manufacture, and capable of being readily, easily, and quickly applied to or removed from the mouth of the bottle, jar, can, or the like, while at the same time forming an eflicient hermetic seal therefor. It is also desirable to provide means whereby the handle of a spoon or other similar article placed within the can or jar may be accommodated when the same extends beyond or above the top edge of the jar or can. In attaining these obj cots in the present instance I propose to avoid employing a plurality of parts and the consequent necessity for assembling such parts by'hand. I also propose to provide a cap having a flange which is contractible in circumferential length, but which is dircumferentially continuous and formed integrally with the top or base portion of the cap and wherein thegripping action exerted thereby upon the ex terior surface of the neck of the bottle, jar, can, or the like is closely adjacent the peripheral edge or end thereof, whereby the cap may be readily removed when once applied by exerting pressure upon the lower edge of the flange in the direction of the length of the bottle, jar, can, or the like. I also propose to so form the integral connecting-web portion of the flange as to strengthen the same against danger of rupture at a point where it might present a roughened or sharp edge capable of inflicting injury to the fingers during the manipulation thereof for the removal of the same. I also propose to form an o ening in the cap through which when desire the handle of a spoon or similar article may project and to provide means for closing such open- In carrying out my invention in the attainthe base or top I remove a crescent-shaped strip, as indicated ment of the above-noted objects I form a sheet or plate of suitable material, preferably metal, such as tin, into a shell or cup 'of eccentric shape having a top or'base portion A and an inte al flange B. In the peripheral edge of the s ell or cu I form a shoulder O. From of the eccentric shell or-cup at D, Fig. 2, the cut for the removal of such strap commencing at the shoulder or offset C an continuing for a desirable circumferential distance and adiacent the fperipheral edge of the cup or she I, but su trlcityof the top or base A is reduced, leaving clearly indicated in Fig. 2.

such top or base substantially circular, as

, In practice I prefer to terminate the li portion E at a point F somewhat short of flie length of the separated ortion of the flange, leaving a portion G of t e separated part of the flange without any 'such lifi, the separating-cut continuing to the point as in icated in Fig. .2. In this manner I form the shell or cup with a circum ferentially continuous flange, which is integrally formed with the top or base of the cup or shell, but which is partiall separated for a portion of its circumferentia length from the top or base, the separated part of the flange being connected to the adjacent unseparated part of the flange by an integral connectingweb' portion G. From the lower ed e of the integral connecting webortion G, remove a piece of the material t ereof of somewhat irregular shape, leaving a cut or opening having an upwardl -inclined edge J and a vertical edge, bot edges terminating at the lower ed e of the connectin web G. From this itwi 1 be seen that the integral connecting-web portion G along its upper edge forms a symmetrical continuation of the upper edge of the flange, and the flange is weakened at the ortion G by the removal from the lower e ge of the web portion G of a portion of the material which would otherwise constitutethe transverse width of the flange at this point. With the blank or shell thus formed and produced. the cup or closure is completed byfolding or bending the integral connecting-web portion G into a fold or upon itself, as indicated at L, Figs. 4, 5, and 6, thereby contracting the efleetiveodiameter of the flange and drawing the separated portion thereof'to ether upon the top or-base with the lip E apping over or past the adjacent edge of the to or base to close the openin produced in t e top or base by the remova of the crescent-shaped strip therefrom, the

shoulder Fat the termination of the lip E lapping over the terminal H of the cut, as

clearly indicated in-Fi'g. 4. Thus it will be seen that the integral and foldable connecting-- by exerting a pressure upon the lower ed e of the cap or closure and in,the direction 0 '.the length of the bottle, jar, can, or the like. Moreover, the material of the flange by reason of the inclined edge J is of increasing width from one end of the web G until the entire transverse width of the flange is attained. Consequently the web portion, although of reduced width as compared with the width of the flange, is strengthened and braced by the increasing width of the material at that end of the web, and conse uently when the web is bent or folded upon 1tself to complete the cap the weakened part thereof is at the point of fold or bend M, inside the loop or fold, so that in case. the web portion should be ruptured by unben'ding or unfolding the same for the removal of the cap or closure the ru ture will be at a point inside the fold or ben thereby avoidin the formation of sharp or broken edges w ich might otherwise endan er the fingers during the manipulation oft e Web for the removal of the cap or closure.

In applying a cap or closure embodying my invention to a bottle, jar, can, or the hke I prefer to employ a sealing-disk N, placed within the bottom of the cap or closure or over the mouth of the bottle, jar, can, or the like to which the cap or closure is to be a plied. If desired, the cap or closure may e secured to the mouth of the bottle, jar, can, or the like by spinnin or bending the edge of the cap or closure under a shoulder P, formed on the bottle, jar, can, or the like.

In order to accommodate the handle of a spoon or similar article, I form a niche or opening P at a convenient point in the edge 0 the cut made by the removal of the crescent-shaped strip D, and in a corresponding point of the edge of the lip E, I form a projectin tongue K. When the cap is comlete by contracting the circumferential ength of the flange and drawing-the same into position for the lip E to engage over the adjacent ed e of the top or base A ofthe ca as clearly s hown in Fig. 4, the tongue serves to form a cover for the'niche P. By turning1 or bending the tongue K back upon itself t e niche P is uncovered, thereby enablin the handle of a spoon, fork, or other 'simi ar article to pass therethrou h, and even if the separated portion of the fl ange should be entirely removed or broken offstill there would be a suflicient length of flange left inte ral with the top or base to form a remov- \ab le cover for the can or jar, while at the same time the niche P in the ed e of the top or base would serve to accommo ate the handle of a spoon or' similar article. In this manner I make provision in a single-piece cap for the accommodation of the handle of a spoon or other similar article, and this I regard as a valuable feature of my invention.

It is obvious that many variations and changes in the details of construction and arrlannjgement would readily occur to persons s ed in the art and still fall within the spirit and scope of my invention.

I do not claim hereinthe broad idea of a cap or closure for bottles, jars, cans, or the like, formed from a single piece of material and having a continuous partiall -separated flange provided with a contractilfile portion, as the same is claimed in my ending application Serial No. 285,255, filed ctober 31, 1905.

Having now set forth the object and nature of my invention, and a construction embodying the princi les thereof, what I claim as new and usefu and of my own invention, and

. desire to secure by Letters Patent, is+

1. A cap or closure for bottles, ars, cans or the like, for ed from a single piece of material having a continuous flange rovided with a portion partially separated om the base of the cap or closure, the partiall separated portion bein connected to the adjacent portion of the ange by an inte' al connecting web forming a continuation o the upper edge of the flange.

2. A cap or closure for bottles, jars, cans or the like, formed from a single piece of material, and having a continuous flange rovided with a portion partially separated om the base of the cap or closure, the partially-Se arated portion of the flange being connecte to the unseparated ortion of the flange by an integral web of ess width than the flan e, said web being formed in substantial continuation of the flange at its point of juncture with the top or base. i

3. A cap or closure for bottles, ars, cans or the like, formed from a 'single piece of mate rial and having a continuous flange rovided with a portion partially se arated om the base of the cap or closure,.t e separated portion of the flange havin a portion of its material removed from theflower edge thereof to form an integral-connecting web along its upper edge. I

4. A cap or closure for bottles, jars, cans or i the like, having a base or top and a continuous flange formed intergallytherewith, said flange being separated from the base or top for a portion of its circumferential length,*the separated ortion of the flange being connected to tl ie unseparated portion by an integral, foldable web portion of less width than width at one end thereof.

5. A cap or closure for bottles, ars, cans or the like, formed from a single piece of material and having a continuous flange rovided with a portion partially se arated om the base of the cap or closure, t e partially-separated portion of the flange being connected to the unseparated portion b an integral foldable web, the transverse wi th of the web increasing in width at one end thereof to the full width of the flange.

6. A cap or closure for bottles, jars, cans or the like, formed from a single piece of material and having a continuous flange rovided with a portion partially se arated base of the ea 'or closure, t e separated part of the flan e eing connected to the unseparated part by an integral web, the upper edge of the web forming a continuation of the u per edge of'the flange, and the lower edge oi the web increasing in width at one end thereof.

7. A cap or closure for bottles, jars, cans or the like havin a top or base and a flange formed integra ly therewith, said flange being se arated from the top or base for a portion 0 its circumferential length, said top or the width of the flange, but increasing in om the base and the se arated ortion of the flange formed integra ly therewith, said flange being of greater circumferential length than the peripheral length of the top or base and havlng a foldable ortion to contract the circumferential lengt thereof, a niche being formed in said top or base and a tongue on said flange to cover the same when said flange is contracted in length.

9. Acap or closure for bottles, jars, cans or the like havin a top or base and a flange formed. integraly therewith, but separated therefromfor a portion of its length, said flange having a lip to engage over the edge of the top or base, theedge of the top or ase having a niche formed therein and the lip on IIO 

